Adopting SiLA drivers into a Lab-of-the-Future digital network – OHaus Pioneer PX
Deft, a scalable, laboratory digital network product integrating and standardising bench-top instrument comms protocols in chemical formulation and R&D labs. Deft can work as a stand-alone system or as part of an existing LIMS connected infrastructure. At the heart of the system is the Deft Gateway based on the SiLA2 protocol (Standardisation in Lab Automation), which combines Bluetooth instrument connectivity with Wi-Fi protocol to connect the lab instruments to a secure network.
Aimed at the bench scientist, Deft unobtrusively captures the process data (Industry 4.0 and Big Data compliant) providing the ‘information gap’ when comparing manually made bench formulations and has a host of additional features such as experimental design, workflow control, remote access, and Asset Management worthy of a fully digital Lab-of-the-Future program.
Applied Scientific Technologies (AST) are the global specialists for SiLA driver development and have linked many standard lab bench equipment to Deft using the SiLA 2 communications protocol. Our latest addition to our growing library is the OHaus Pioneer PX. This is a widely used precision balance which offers communication via RS232 / USB. The OHaus provides a range of transmittable commands and defined responses for remote operation. These commands allow the Pioneer PX to be integrated into DEFT as follows:
A common SiLA Feature (Weigh Provider) was defined to capture common functionality found in most balances
On the Gateway a Pioneer PX specific implementation of this feature was created - Mapped the specific Pioneer PX Commands to the generic feature commands (Weigh, Tare)
A parser was added to handle messages returned from the balance and update the fields accordingly (Weight value, Units)
A Weigh Provider control was then added to the app which displays the current weight and units along with virtual buttons to send Weigh/Tare commands
Allows the user to remotely interact with the balance using the tablet
Our SiLA drivers are developed as a combination of SiLA features, allowing for greater code reuse. This also allows us to use devices with minimal changes to the application. Along with being user-friendly this has the potential to reduce the learning curve for using new devices.
SiLA (Standardisation in Lab Automation) enables Lab-of-the-Future technology through free and open communication protocols and data standards. The adopting of SiLA helps to future proof lab equipment by enabling end-to-end integration with lab instruments and allows them to connect to each other are share data more seamlessly. www.sila-standard.com/
Deft is cloud-ready to allow Asset Management, remote access and Over-The-Air updates seamlessly integrating into any digital laboratory environment. Implementing SiLA drivers for this technology provides many benefits such as digitisation information capture and standard Deft benefits which include specific user experimental design and workflow integration via an Android Tablet or mobile phone App. The Tablet App GUI is intuitive and requires no formal training. The App allows many functions that are not possible when using the device alone such as capturing all communication and data, allowing the device to be controlled wirelessly and automatically run multiple experiments in sequence under user control.
Applied Scientific Technologies (AST) is an emerging, innovative spin-out company founded in 2017 based in Stokesley, North Yorkshire. Founded by two directors from Applied Integration UK Ltd, a company celebrating its 15th working anniversary. AST are innovative specialists in robotics, automated control systems and hardware integration in the laboratory, chemical, pharmaceutical, physical and life science industries supporting your laboratory digitalisation journey.
